Erksine College to offer $100,000 scholarships to graduates of its 13 SC charter schools

David Crook, head of school for the Cyber Academy of South Carolina in Greenville, reacts to news Erskine College is offering $100,000 scholarships to graduates of Erskine charter schools like his.
Tim Smith, tcsmith@greenvillenews.com

A photo from Cyber Academy of South Carolina’s 2018 graduation. Erskine College president Dr. Rob Gustafson was a keynote speaker.(Photo: Provided photo)

Crook is head of the Cyber Academy of South Carolina in Greenville, one of Erskine College's 13 charter schools, and had just learned that students graduating from the schools next year will receive $100,000 scholarships if they attend Erskine.

"I was surprised," he told The Greenville News Wednesday. "It's a huge opportunity for a lot of my students."

Erskine unveiled the scholarships Wednesday to a meeting of the leaders of its charter schools.

Timothy Rees, dean of enrollment for Erskine College, said the Abbeville County school had recently offered the scholarships to private school students in three states on a limited basis. He said today's announcement offers the scholarship to all graduates of Erskine charter schools in South Carolina.

"I would love for every student to be able to take advantage of it but I know that's not the reality," he said. "Some are going to choose technical or community college. Some are going to choose the military. Some are going to choose public four-year universities because of the size. I would hope we would have a few dozen, that would be great."

Cameron Runyan, CEO of the Erskine Institute, which oversees the charter system, said the scholarships are aimed at helping students who are financially challenged.

"This is an opportunity for the college to really reach into those communities and find talent, good, bright kids who might not otherwise be able to afford a private school education and to give them that opportunity," he said.

The 179-year-old Christian liberal arts school is located in Due West, near the Anderson County border and is about an hour's drive from Greenville. Erskine operates a charter school in Belton in Anderson County as well as the Cyber Academy in Greenville, one of Erskine's three virtual schools.

Crook said he has about 2,000 students, 700 of whom are seniors. The academy offers dual enrollment, meaning they can get college credit for some of their courses.

About 70 percent of his students, he said, are on a free or reduced lunch, meaning they come from low-income families.

"That kind of scholarship money to my graduates is just a huge opportunity for a lot of them they might not realize otherwise," he said.

He said one of the academy's past graduates is a student at Erskine and loves it.

"I think it's a great fit for some students but it's a high financial hurdle for a lot of students," he said.

Students will be offered $25,000 a year to attend Erskine, he said. If students are eligible for other aid, such as Pell grants or Life scholarships, they can be stacked on top of the $25,000 to give students a chance at a free education at Erskine, Runyan said.

The annual tuition for the school is $34,095, according to Erskine.

Currently, the 13 charter schools have a total of 812 seniors, Runyan said.

A big reason for the college to get into charter schools, he said, was to get into the disadvantaged parts of South Carolina.

"Erskine has just seen the ravages of a dearth of educational opportunity can have on a community," he said.

He said the other reason for the scholarships is to grow enrollment at Erskine.

"The one-two of why this is being done is to grow enrollment, to attract really bright kids and to give back to some of the really needy communities in South Carolina," Runyan said.

He said he hopes given the shortage of teachers in the state that some of the scholarship recipients will want to become education majors and teachers.

Runyan said the scholarships are a four-year committment from Erskine.

"At the end of the day, this is an opportunity for kids around South Carolina to get either a very affordable education at a good private school or even perhaps to have a full ride if they are able to stack awards on top of each other."

Erskine College was founded in 1839 by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. It has about 500 students, Runyan said.